US1741985A - Sorting machine - Google Patents

Description

EDec. 31, 19290 I E, A. FORD 1,741,985

SORTING MACHINE Filed Nov.,7, 1924 11 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 31, 1929 E. A. FORD SORTING MACHINE Filed NOV. 7, 1924 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 mom avwantoz $51 Gib M4015 LMLS Dec. 31, 1929. E. A. FORD I SORTING MACHINE 1,1, Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. '7, 1924 Dec. 31, 1929.

EJ741385 v I E. A. FORD SORTING MACHINE l1. Sheets-Shet 4 Filed Nov. '7, 1924 Dec. 31, 1929. E. A. FORD SQRTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1924 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 31, 1929.

7 :1 NHL/37 I A. FORD SORTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 7, 1924 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 nveuto'c Dec. 31, 1929. E. A. FORD SORTING MACHINE Filed Nov. '7, 1924 ll'sne ts-sneet' 7 Dec. 31, 1929. E. A. FORD SORTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 7, 1924 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 I avwewto'c CL %M W Dec. 31, 1929. E. A. FORD I ISORTING MACHINE Filed Nov. '7, 1924 11 fihpets-Sheet 10' awue mid Dec. 31, 1929. E. A. FORD SORTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1924 11 Sheets-Sheet; 11

"team Patented Dec. 31, I929 UNETE EUGENE A. roan, onsonnsnnnn, NEW YORK,- Assmnon. TO THE .TAIBULATING ma- CHINE COMPANY, OIE ENDICOT'I,

SORTING Application filed November This invention relates to machines especially adapted for sorting cards used in tabulating systems such, for instance, as the .Hollerith.

Index points are formed by punching holes through the cards, the value and character of the information conveyed. by each hole being dependent on its exact location on the card.

The function of the sorting machine is to take a promiscuous stack of cards and sort or I classify them into groups as desired by the operator, so as to readily'permit the computing or analyzing of the information carried on the cards.

The present invention, which preferably sorts electrically, is designed to overcome many faults of previous sorting machines. It has no reciprocating parts, consequently it may be run at higher speed and with less noise than previous machines. The higher speed enables it to do its work in less time, and the quiet operation allows it to be used in offices where quietness is essential.

Its design and principle of operation is such that it may be built low in height and thereby allow the operator to be seated. Its lowheight, horizontal construction, and absence of obstructions on top permits the use of a work table as an integral part of the machine, thereby saving-the space required by a separate table and adding to the convenience of operation. The card receiving stations being only one tier in height, have greater storage capacity than in former machines.

My machine will handle long or short cards; its brush setting mechanism is more convenient; and its simplicity of construction is such that it is easier and cheaper to build and maintain than former sorters.

In addition to the above, the present machine has universal split and selection, the meaning of which will presently be explained.

One of the objects of the present invention resides in the provision of novel means for effecting the selection of the passages 01' chutes to the various receiving stations. In

lace of using a stop element which is controlled by the card analyzing devices for NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0E NEW JERSEY MACHINE a, 1924. Serial at. 74am.

difierentially arresting the sorter or distribration of the blades, which analyzing device operates in conjunction with the record card which is analyzed to control by and in accordance with the position of the card itself the selection of the passage between a pair of blades and thereby determine the destination of the card.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision-of a peculiar form of distributing blades. The blades are provided with receiving ends of progressively different length and the increment of length between each adjacent pair of blade ends corresponds to the interval between adjacent index point perforations of the record cards. Provision is made for directing a card along the blades and at the time the index point is analyzed by the analyzing means provision is made for opening up the blades. The card then acts in accordance with its position to prevent the opening "of passages between blades already passed by the card but permits the opening of the next succeeding passage thegeby determining the destination of the car Further and other advantages of the present invention will' hereafter appear in the accompanying specifications and claims and in the drawings, which, by way of illustration, show what I now consider to be a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, I

Fig. 1- is a front elevation, partly broken away, and partly in section, of my complete machine. y Y

Fig. 2 's a section on line. 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking to ards the feed magazine and brush mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a detail section of a card discharge receptacle.

portion of Fig. 3 showing a card being fed through the feed rolls at the instant the-control magnet is about to gperate.

Fig. 5 is the same as 1g. 4 but the control magnet has acted. Fig. 6 is a section as indicated at 6-6 in F1 2 showing the automatic card-controlle circuit breaker.

Fig. 7 is a front view, partly'in section, of brush holder mechanism, also part of contact cylinder and its shaf s Fig. 8 1s a side view ofbrush holder mechanism, partly in section. a

Fig. 9 is a top view of the receiving end of a distributing blade.

just after Fig. 9"is a section side view of the dischar e end of a distributing blade, as secure to bracket at receiving station.

Fig. 10 is a plan viewof Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a section as indicated by 11--11 on Fig. 10, looking to the left.

Fig. 12 is a detail showing how the con-.-

ve or rolls are driven.

1g. 13 is an end view, partly 1n section,

' of the universal selector and splitting 'device.

Fig. 14 is a section on line 14-14 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 14" is an enlarged detail of the lower portion of Fig. 14. I Fig. 15 is a diagram of the electric circuits, and a diagrammatic representation of the selector mechanism of Figs. 13 and 14.

' Fi- 16 is a plan view, partly in section, on the l ne 16-16 of Fig.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged view, more in detail, of the picker device shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 18 is a detail on line 18--18 of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a section on line 1919 of Fig. 3.

I Fig. 20 is a view of hinge of work table. I.

Fig. 21 is a view of a typical record card. Fig. 22 is a view of an alternative arrangement of control magnet and armature.

' column has 10 index positions. The columns.

Fig. 23 is an enlarged fragmental sectional side elevation of parts shown in Fig. 22.

' Record card 'In order that the operation of my machine may be fully understood I show in Fig. 21

atypical record card arranged to compile 'a sales record. Each card represents a sale and when properly punched contains alldesired information regarding that particular transactioli. L I

' 'As indicated by the serial numbers across the bottom, the card has columns, and each are arranged in groups, or sections,.suitable for the purpose required under each heading. By way of illustration, columns 21 to 26 inclusive, are provided to record the amount of a-sale, which, on the card shown, was $896.50, designated by holes punched in the .card' at proper index positions. Columns 18 to 20 indicate the account number, which the punched holes show 'to be 321. Likewise columns 14 to 17 show the quantity, ornumber of articles sold, to be 4546. The salesman who made the sale was N o. 21, as indicated by columns 11-12; the customer was No. 549, as shown in columns 8-10, the sale was made in county 33 in State 24, as shown in column groups 6-7 and 4-5 respectivelyfor that purpose is 31, the index spaces below 3 in column 1 may either be left blank or used for some otherpurpose, for instance designatin the year, as on the card be ore us. This rings about a condition wherein we have two holes punched in a single column. Such a column is known as a split column and will be referred to a ain later.

In order to make per ectly clear the function of the sorting machine in my present invention, I shall briefly describe how the rec- 0rd cards are used in actual service.

If the operator has a promiscuous stackof cards covering several years sales, and he wants to know the amount of those sales in dollars and cents, he will run the cards through a' tabulating machine, such as the well known Hollerith, which, when adjusted to add the columns 21-26 of the sales card, will register the desired total on suitable counters.

, If he wants his sales record divided into years, he will first run his cards through the sorting machine while acting under control of the punched holes in the lower section of column 1, and each years cards will-automatically be discharged into a separate receiving station. Then he can run the cards for each year through the tabulating machine. If he wants the sales for only the year 1922 and is not interested in the other years he can set the control mechanism of my machine so that only the 1922 cards will be se arated and deposited in a station bythemse ves, the remaining cards all going into the reject station. i

Then if he wants the 1922 sales separated into months my sorter will do it on a separate sorting run while acting under control of index holes in column 3.

If he wants to know the amount of sales to customer No. 549 he will first run all his cards .through the sorter and separate out all those sales to customer 549.

General construction and operation.

Having described the purpose 'of the sorter, I shall ,now describe its construction and mode of operation. a i

Referring to Fig. 1 which shows a front view of my machine, the frame is mounted on legs 31. Underneath the main frame, and carried by the legs, is a shelf or subframe 3 supporting the motor 33 which drives the machine by pulley-34 through belt'35 to pulley 36 secured to shaft 37 which runs the full length of the machine, in the rear,-pulley 36 being on one end of it and handwheel 38 on the other. Motor 33 is shown slightly displaced from its true position in order to save space in the drawing.

The motor is mounted on a fixed base 39 and has a stem 40 extending into the base, which permits the motor to be adjusted vertically to maintain proper tension in the belt should it stretch, or if the sizes of the pulleys be changed in order to change the speed of the machine. A locking screw operated by h'andwheel 41 serves to secure the motor to its base.

Box 42 underneath the right hand end of the frame 30 contains the relays, fuses, and electrical connections, current from the outside source being admitted to, or cut out from, the machine by the switchbuttons 43.

In handling tabulating record cards it is desirable that they be very carefully stacked or jogged by the operator before being placed in the feed magazine, so as to facilitate their being fed accurately to the machine. My invention provides excellent facilities for this I stacking or jogging operation, in the table top 44 (Figs. 1, 10, 11, 20) with its back 45 and its ends 46 all arranged at right angles to eachother. The table is preferably of transparent material such as glass, so the progress of the cards moving underneath to their respective stations may be observed. The table-top is hinged by the rod 47 secured to an extension 48 of the top, at each end, the rod 47 passing'through a plurality of clamps 49 which are slotted, as at 50, and adjusted by screws 51 to give just suflicient grip on shaft 47 to retain the top at any desired raised position and prevent its slamming down. If desired, the top may be clamped down by the thumb screws 52 which serve to secure the top to the guard plate '53 which extends lengthwise of the machine in front and is rigidly attached thereto. The plate 53 has several cut-away portions, as at-54 (Fig. 1)

for convenience of the operator in getting his fin ers under the. top to raise it.

group of cards having been properly stacked, the stack is placed in the feed magazine as at 55 with plate 56 on top of the stack. This plate is used so that when there are only a few cards left in the stack there will be enough weight on them to prevent them being displaced from true osition by the rapid .action of the picker mec anism. Bracket 57 serves to hold the plate when it is not in use.

The operator by means of a crank handle 58 moves the contact brush so it will traverse the desired index column on the cards as they pass under it, and he arranges the selector buttons 59, to give the kind of sort he wants.

He then starts the machine by depressing button 60. Picker drum 61, drivenv from shaft 37, rotates and feeds the cards one by one from the bottom of the stack into the.

which is an inclined tray 63 having vertical fingers 64 (Fig. 3) extending upwardly from its lower edge. Each tray is carrie by a plunger 65 which extends downwardly into a cylinder 66, wherein the plunger is supported by a coil spring 67 of such resiliency as to gradually sink as its lead of cards increases and always maintain the top of its stack at or near the top of its compartment so that newly arriving cards will have only a slight distance to drop and consequently will have no chance to turn over or become otherwise deranged.

- Feed mechanism The feed mechanism (Figs. 2, 3, 16, 17, 18)

consists of the rotary picker drum 61, mountv ed on shaft 61 on which is fast spiral gear 67 driven by worm 68 on shaft 37. Drum 61 carries in its rim a number of picker blades'69 extending lengthwise of the drum and secured in place by the screws 7 0. These blades project from the drum a distance slightly less than the thickness of a card. Picker drum 61 is enclosed in the housing 71. As the drum revolves each blade in turn picks a card'from the bottom of the stack 55 and feeds it through the micrometer or card throat openings 72 provided between the fixed plates 73 and'rollers 74, carried by plates 76, one

micrometer opening being located toward each end of the card. The openings are adjusted so that only one card may pass at a time, the adjustment being accomplished by set screws 75 which raise or lower plates 7 6 thereby moving rollers 7 4 relative to plate 73. The card is impelled by the picker blade until it is seizedb-y the contact cylinder and its rollers.

' slightly cut away as at 88 to prevent the- The picker drum varies fromtrue cylin drical shape as best shown in Fig. 17 wherein it will be noticed that after a picker blade has taken its card, the weight of the right hand side of the stack of cards is resting on that portion of the drum which-is truly cylindrical, and as the drum revolves, the stack, following the cut-away contour of the drum, gradually reaches a low position at the point 77, from which point the edge of the stack is rapidly pushed upward again as-that portion of the drum between 77 andtheblade pass under it, and is still being raised when the blade contacts with the card.

The front faces of the blades are not radial, but if extended inwardly would be tangent to the circle 78. This is done so there will be a slightly obtuse angle between card and picker blade attime of contact as indicated by angle 79, and the blade thereby gets a positive grip on the card.

Each card, when struck by the rapidly moving picker blade, has a tendency to buckle, but this is rendered unobjectionable by making plate 80 slightly concave. This construction allows the card to buckle slightly downwards in the middle without disturbing the stack or interfering with the positiveness of feed. Likewise the lower edges of plate 73 are curved upwards on both sides of micrometer opening 72 to allow the card freedom to curve slightly at its ends without interfering with regular operation of feed.

The stack of cards is held in position to be fed into the machine by plate 73 and by the two end plates 81 and by the two slotted posts 82. The end plates 81 are heldin position by dowel pins extending from their lower ends into the frame of the machine, as at 83, and by thumb screws 84 through the plate 73 near the upper ends of the posts. Provision may be made for feeding cards of different lengths by moving end plates to different positions, as for instance, to the positions indicated by dowel holes 85 in the frame and thumb screw holes 86 in plate 73. Posts 82 are slotted vertically to receive guide studs in keeper plate 56 as indicated at 87 (Fig. 3).

The under side of plate 56 (Fig. 17) is picker knives hitting the edge of the plate after'the last card has been fed. 'To further provide against injury toplate or blades the plate is provided with two studs 89, their lower edges being lower than the bottom of the plate so that when the last card has been fed the heads of the studs ride on the drum and keep the plate out of contact with drum.

Distributing. system p The principle of my distributing system may be readily understood from Figs. 4. and 5, in which 100 is a brass contact cylinder extending crosswise of the machine, 101 being a pair of rollers pressed downwardly against cylinder 100. 103 is acard passing between cylinder and rollers, and 104 is the brush carrying electric current. 105 is a hinged armature normally held by spring 106 (Fig. 2) in elevated position as in Fig. 4, but drawn down to position. as in Fig. 5 when the magnets 107 are energized. 108 are sheets of in sulating material, such as bakeli'te, one on each side of the upraised end of the armature. 109 area plurality of flexible blades made of steel and spring biased downwards so their upturned tips 110 rest on top of armature 105. The receiving ends of the blades are narrowed relatively tothe main portions of the blades, as shown in Fig. 9. The other ends of these blades are successively attached to brackets 111, one above each receiving station, the lowest blade going to station R, the second from the bottom going to station E, the third to station X, the fourth tostation 0, the fifth to station 1, aiid so on to station 9.

The method of attachment to the brackets 111 is shown in Fig.9? which shows the main body of the blade welded to block 112 which is attached to bracket 111' by screws. A portion 113 unched from the center of the blade is bent ownwardly below the bracket 111. A separate chute deflecting blade 114 is secured to each bracket 111 to assist in stacking the cards properly in the several receiving stations. 115 is a guide block to insure the cards properly entering between plates 108 and spring lips 110, while 116 is a rigid plate extending lengthwise of the machine above the blades 109. It is fastened to the frame above station 9 and by cross members 117. It carries guide block 115 on arm 118 which is secured to 116 by screw 119 and dowel pin 120 so when desired it may readily be swung aside.

Restoring cam 121, revolvin synchronously with the balance of the mec anism, restores the armature 105 to its position after the passage of each card.

In passing to the several receiving stations the card is drawn along between successive upper and lower pairs of feed rolls spaced so that each set ofrolls receives the card counter clockwise so as to draw the cards between them. The rollers'are placed on their shafts so as to be in line with the card throat and serve as bearing and spacing collars for the shafts. On the upper roller shaft 123 the hub of the gear 127 serves asa spacing collar on one end and with collar 129 on the other end, keeps the shaft in proper endwise posisure between the upper and lower rolls is adjusted by the spring clips 132 which have two downwardly bent ends, one end resting on top of frame 131 while the other rests in the groove of bearing sleeve 130. It is evident that the downward pressure on 130 may be adjusted by regulating screw 133 which passes through the middle portion of clip 132 and secures it to the frame 131. The shield 134 extends lengthwise of the machine to cover shaft 37 and the gears 127.

' While the machine is sorting a promiscuous stack of cards, each card as it comes from the feeding mechanism is passed over the cylinder 100, with brush 104 bearing on the top surface of the card. If the brush finds no hole in the card, that card will pass along above plates 108 and underneath all the upturned blade ends 110, into the firstv receiving station, designated R, or reject.

If, however, brush 104 finds a hole in the card it will complete the electric circuit by making contact with cylinder 100, magnets 107 will thereby be energized, armature 105' will be drawn down, followed by all the blade ends 109 which are not prevented by the card itself from following the armature, and we have the condition shown in Fig. 5 wherein it is evident that further progress of the card to the left will direct it into the passage between the 5th and 6th blade (counting from the right), and that card as it passes between the successive pairs of rollers will be confined to that particular passage, which ends in'station 4. It is evident that the destination of each card depends on how far the card has traveled underneath the blades 109 at the instant the magnet is energized, and that depends on the location of the hole in the card.

The cards are fed bottom first and the brush passes over the index postions in any column in the order 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, followed by the extra positions,as for instance 11 and 12 in Fig. 21. These extra positions correspond to stations X and E respectively.

Ends 110 of blades ,109 are so positioned relatively to the brush 104 that if the brush.

finds a hole at index position 9 the magnet will have acted before the advancing edge of the card has reached the first blade, the card will pass above all the blades and will be conducted by the rollers into the furthest station, which is No. 9. If the brush does not find a hole in the card until index point 8 is reached, the card will have advanced far enough to prevent the end of the first blade being lowered when the magnet is energized, but all the others will have followed the armature downward (both on account of the spring bias of the blades themselves, and the attraction of the magnets for the blades, which are preferably, of steel) and the card will pass between the first and second blades into station No. 8, and so on. It will be understood that the thickness of the blades is much less" than indicated by the drawings, so they must bend only very slightly in order to permit the cards totravel in the plane beu tween the rolls. 7

Armature 105 is a swin ing plate (Fig. 2) above the four magnets 10 which are mount-- ed in the frame 135. The armature is hinged by a V shaped pivot formed on top of one of the sides of the ma net frame 135, at 136. Two pins 137 set into the top of the wall, pass loosely through holes in the armature and prevent it being displaced. Spring 106 may be adjusted by screw 138 passing through stud 139 and locked by nut 140, to hold the armature in its elevated position against the pressure of blades 109. The armature is formed, at its end adjacent the blades, into the shape of a plate approximately the width of blades 109, and located between insulating plates Brush mechanism Brush 104 is secured by any suitable means to brush plate 150 (Figs. 7 and 8). The brush plate is fastenedby screws or rivets 151 to brush holder 152 which is bakelite or some similar insulating material. Plate 150 is slotted as at 153, to provide a tongue 154 which makes a resilient contact with the currentcarrying plate 155 extending cross-wise the machine. Steel plate 157 extending crosswise brush holder, by threaded block 160, to its desired position. Set into block 160 and held by plate 161 is the piece 162 which has an upwardly extending arm 163 having a projection at its upper end, this projection being V shaped on its under side to fitany) one of the serrations on the upper side of ar 157.

The lower part of member 162 has stepped shoulders extending laterally, the lower steps 164 (Fig. 7) serving as guides to keep 162 1n position, and the upper steps 165 serving as -bearings for the coil springs 166, set into recesses 1n-160, and which through plungers 173 press 162 constantly downwards relative- 1v to 160. Pin 167, screwed into the rear of machine so that brush 104 will register with.

the desired column on the card it is essential that the brush be not injured by being dragged sidewise on the card or on cylinder 100, and the above described mechanism prevents such injury. Fig. 2 shows the brush in operative position with V shaped projection 163 resting in the bottom of the serration in bar 157 corresponding to the card column being analyzed. Block 162 is spring pressed to its lowest position. If now screw 159 be turned the inclined face of the V tooth on bar 157 actin on the V shaped projection 163 will raise the atter and with it the brush to the position shown in Fi 7. If the screw be turned further 163 Wlll settle into the next notch, and if turned still further the brush maybe moved as far as desired across the card, the brush rising at each tooth but never draggin I As a urther precaution against injury to the brush while being removed for inspection it will be noticed that brush holder 152 has a downwardly projectin shoulder 171 engaging with'a shoulder 1 2 on member 156 so that brush holder 152 can not be removed from nor replaced on pin 167 until 152 is in its highest position and the brush therefore out of contact with" card or cylinder '100.

Selector mechanism The selectoris a device designed to enable the operator of the sorter to determine which index holes in a card column will control the sort. 55 My selector (Figs. 13, 14, 14) comprises a circular disc 200 of bakelite or some similar non-conducting material,.mounted on a metal 7 hub 201 which in turn is fast to shaft 202 which carries cylinder 100. Disc 200 has an outer ri1'n2'03 of copper or brass, and near its hub has a'ring of brass or copper buttons 204 embedded flush with the 'bakelite surface. Each button corresponds to' a sorting station and is lettered accordingly R, E, X, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Each button 204 is connected by a rivet through the disc a button'205 is set at its outermost radial position, as in the upper part of Fig. 14, then its outer end will be in contact with ring 203 and the circuit will be complete through the selector, the current passing out through shoe 209 and conductor 210. If, however, any button 59 is pushed, with its spring 206, to the inner limit of its travel, as for instance the No. 1 button in Fig. 13, a condition is found as best shown in the enlarged cross section in Fig.

14 wherein it will be noticed that spring 206 7 .makes contact with neither the button 205 nor the outer rin 203 and no current passes. In this position t e bow-spring 206 automatically locks itself in position when its inner end enters the circular groove 211.

The rotation of the selector is so timed with relation to the movement of the cards being fed into the sorter that each selector button makes contact with brush 208 just before the corresponding index position on the card reaches brush 104. Then if the brush finds a hole in the card at that index position it makes contact with drum 100, the magnets 107 are energizedand the card goes to its proper station as previously described. It

will be noted that contact must be made concurrently by brush 104 and brush 208 in order to energize the magnet. In actual practice contact is made and broken by brush 208 slightly before being made and broken by brush 104, in order to prevent sparking at the card.

The diagram (Fig. 15) illustrates the flow of current, the upper portion representing in perspective shaft 202, a portion of cylinder 100 and the selector mechanism arranged, for convenience of illustration, with ring 203 and its brush near the hub, and buttons 204 and brush 208 on outer rim. A retaining ring 212 held to disc 200-by screws 213 holds bowsprings 206 and buttons 59 in position.

Operation trolof brush 104 and the cards therefore will all be sorted into their respective stations in accordance with locations of index holes in the column being analyzed.

To split the-column at any desired point, I

as for instance if the'operator wants to reject all cards having perforations below the three position in a column, he will push in all the 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 buttons. Then all cards having holes in those positions will be rejected while all cards having holes 3 and above will be sorted to their respective stations. This feature proves useful in a column such as No. 1 in Fig. 21 in which there are two holes in each column, those below 3 denoting years and those in positions 3 and above denoting days of the month, as it allows each section of the column to be sorted separately.

The device may be used also for selecting only cards having holes punched at only one index position, as for instance the 6 position, in which case all buttons except the 6 will be pushed in. All 6 cards will then go to the 6 station, the others all going to the R station.

To sort more than one position in a column, as for instance 9 and 7, all buttons except 9 and 7 are pushed in. Then all cards with only a 9 hole will go to the 9 station and all with only a 7 will go to the 7 station, all others being rejected. If it happens that a card has holes at both 9 and 7 positions it will go to the 9 station because the 9 index position reaches brush 104 first. The cards in 9 station therefore will have to be run through the sorter again with only the 7 button in control, in order to separate them.

In ordinary service the operator starts the machine pressing starter button and stops it by pressing either of the stop buttons 214, one at each end of the machine. To maintain the motor in operation. and allow the operator to release pressure from the start key after cards are started feeding through the machine and further to automatically stop the motor upon the passage of the last card a card lever contact or switch mechanism block 215, fast to the frame of the machine,

thereby depressing card lever 216 which is pivoted to the frame at 217, and which by its downwardly extending arm 218 controls the card contacts 219. When a card is passing arm 218 presses spring blade 220to the left and contact is maintained at 219, but if 110' card is passing, 216 is free to rise sufliciently to allow 218 to move to the right, and spring blade 220 breaks the contact. Rollers 122 and 124 immediately adjacent this automatic switch mechanism are grooved to accommodate theheel of card lever 216.

In starting the machine start key 60 is depressed closing a circuit from source S through control relay R motor relay R and back to source. The energization of relay R brings the motor 33 into circuit with the source S. After the cards begin to pass contacts 219 closes and maintain relay R energized until its circuit is broken by'the depression of either of the stop keys 214 or by the opening of card lever contacts 219 after the passage of the last card or upon the failure of feeding of a card into the machine. Relay R is closed upon the passage of an-index point perforation under the brush 104 and thereafter establishes a circuit to contact brush 208 andthus permits a reduction in the amount of current which flows through the brush circuit, the main supply for the sorter magnet 107 passing directly from relay R and not passing through brush 104.

Figs. 22 and 23 illustrate an alternative arrangement of the control magnets in which the magnets are horizontal instead of vertical, with armature pivoted at 230. When the magnets are energized and armature 105 drawn to, the left, it releases angle piece 231,

which, swinging on its pivot 232 drops until it rests on stop pin 233 thereby permitting the spring-biased ribbons 109 not supported by the card, to drop and direct the card between theproper pair of ribbons to its sta tion. The hinge 232 is supported by the frame 234 fast to the frame of the machine. As 231 is restored to its normal position by cam 121, armature 10a influenced by springv 106 latches 231 in raised position where it remains until the magnet is again energized.

It is sometime desired to operate the machine slowly by hand, and for that purpose hand wheel 38 is provided on the end of shaft 37. This hand wheel is provided witha one-way clutch so as to prevent turning the machine in the wrong direction and thereby injuring the brush. This clutch has rollers 235 contained within the cylindrical hub and acting in conjunction with inclined surfaces 237 so that if wheel 38 be turned clockwise, shaft 37 will also turn, but if 38 is turned counterclockwise shaft 37 will not be moved. In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus disclosed is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed to use the various features and elements in the combinations and relations described, some of these may be altered and others omitted and some of the features of each modification may be embodied in the others without interfering with the more general results outlined, and the inventioniextends to such use.

.I claim:

1. In combination, means for analyzing a card, a plurality of distributing passages the receiving ends of which are normally closed, means operated by said analyzing means to open the receiving end of a passage for the card, the position of the card itself determining which passage shall be opened.

said analyzing means, said movablemember operating in conjunction with said card to open a passage for the card between the blades.

4. In combination, analyzing means comprising devices which cause electric energy to pass through holes in the card, a plurality of blades forming passages for cards, a movable member under control of the analyzing means, the receiving ends of said blades being spring biased against said movable member, said movable member operating in conjunction with the card to open a passage for the card between the blades.

5. In combination, analyzing means comprising devices which cause electric energy to pass through holes in the card, a plurality of blades forming passages for cards, an armature movable by said analyzing means, the receiving ends of said blades resting on said armature, and said armature operating in conjunction with the card to open a passage for the card between the blades.

6. Ina card sorting machine, in combination,"a feedingdevice, an analyzing device comprising means for causing electric current to flow through holes in the card, a plurality of receiving stations, a plurality of blades formin passages for cards, an armature movable by said analyzing means, the

receiving ends of said blades resting on said armature, the armature operating in conjunc tion with the card to open a passage for the card between the blades.

7.. In combination, an analyzing device comprising means for causing electric current to flow through holes in'the card, a magnet operable by said analyzing device, a plurality of superimposed blades forming distributing passages for the cards, the receiving end of each of said blades being longer than 'the one below it, and all said blade ends resting on a plate so positioned that said card while emerging from the analyzing devices passes between said blade ends and said plate, means for bringing about a lowering of said plate and all of said blades except those superimposed upon the card being analyzed upon the analyzation of a card to thereby open a passage for the card between two blades, the particular passage opened depending upon the position of the card at the instant of lowering the blades.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination, card analyzing means comprising devices which cause electric current to flow through holes in the card, a magnet controlled thereby, a plurality of superimposed blades of magnetic material forming distributing passages for the cards, the receiving end of each blade being longer than the blade below it, a movable armature upon which the receiving ends of said blades rest, means for directing the analyzed cards between said armature and the receiving ends of said blades, said magnet when energized under control of the analyzing means attracting said armature and with it all blade ends IIOtfiJI'BStGCl from descent by the card itself whereby a cardpassage is selected between two blades, which selection of passage de pends upon the position of the card itself as the analyzing is effected.

9. In apparatus for sorting cards under control of electric currents flowing through holes in the card, in combination, a contact brush, and means to position said brush relatively to a card, said positioning means being arranged to prevent contact of said brush while such relative motion is taking place.

10. In apparatus for sorting cards under control of electric currents flowing through holes in the card, in combination, a contact brush, a brush holder, means to position the brush relatively to a card, said positioning means comprising a serrated bar coacting with the brush holder to raise the brush out of contact, during such relative movement control of electric currents flowing through holes in the card, in combination. a contact brush, a brush holder, a serrated bar, means comprising a screw to position the brush relatively to the card, said serrated bar coacting with the brush holder to hold the brush out of contact during such relative movement of the brush, and lower the brush into contact at a position corresponding to each column of the card.

13. In apparatus for sorting cards under control of electric currents flowing through holes-in the card, in combination, a contact brush, and means to prevent removal or replacement of the brush while said brush is in contact.

14. Inapparatus for sorting cards under control of electric currents flowing through 5 of the cards through the distributing devicesunder the action of said conveyor.

16. A sorter of the horizontal type having a plurality of receiving stations disposed side by side in horizontal alignment, conveying and card distributing devices above said stations, and a card jogging table disposed above said conveying and distributing devices and supported for displacement from normal position to render the conveying and distributing devices and any cards contained-therein accessible to the operator. I

17. The invention set forth in claim 16 in which said table is provided with a transparent portion to permit the operator to note the progress ofthe cards through the distributing devices while said table top is in normal position, and in which automatic means is provided to hold said table top in any displaced position to prevent damage to the machine or injury of the operator. 18. In a card sorting machine, which includes card analyzing means and means for conveying cards to different stations according to analysis thereof, a receptacle at one of said receiving stations comprising vertical walls, and between said walls a resiliently supported inclined tray, said tray having fingers extending upwardly from itslower edge to arrest and support the cards out of contact with the walls of the receiving chamber.

19. In a card sorting machine, which includes-card analyzing means and means for conveying cards to different stations according to analysis thereof, a receptacle atone of said receiving stations comprising vertic'al walls, and between said walls a tray carried on a stem guided by a vertical tube telescoping with said stem and resiliently supported in said tube.

20. In a card sorting machine, in combination, a feeding device, an analyzing device, a plurality of receiving stations and means controlled by the physical structure of the card itself and apart from the cooperation of portions of the card with said analyzing device, for determining to which station' the card will be delivered.

21. In a card sorting machine, in combination, a feeding device, an analyzing device comprising means for causing electric current to fiow through holes in the. card, a plurality of distributing assages, a magnet controlled by said ana yzing. device to open the receiving end of a passage for a card, the position of the card itself supplemented by the control from said analyzin device for determining which passage wil be opened.

22. In a card sorting machine, in combination, a card picking device, an analyzing device receiving cards therefrom, a plurality of receiving stations, and a distributing system comprising a plurality of blades formin passages for the cards from the picking an analyzing device to said stations, said blades being attached to frame of the machine only at their discharge ends.

23. In a card sorting machine,-in combination, a picking device, an analyzing device receiving cards therefrom, a plurality of receiving stations, a distributing system comprisin a plurality of blades forming passages or cards, and. a conveyor having feed rolls dis osed at each side of said distributing bl'a es, said blades being free of any support at the marginal sides thereof throu hout their length. 4

24:. n a card sorting machine, in combination, a card picking device, an analyzing device, a plurality of receiving stations, a d1stributing system comprising a plurality ofpassages for cards, means controlled by the direct cooperation of a card and an element of the distributing system to select the passage forthe card therein, and a conveyor arranged to convey such cardfrom the pickin and analyzing device through the distri uting system in the passage selected by the card itself. I

25. In a card sorting machine, in combination, a card feeding device, an analyzing device receivin cards therefrom, a series of horizontally disposed receiving stations, a card conve or common to all said stations and locate above said stations, a distributing system havin passages through which cards are conveye by the conveyor from the analyzing device to the stations, and means controlled by the direct cooperation of a card with elements of the distributing system and in turn controlled by the analyzing device for selectin the assag'es in said distributing system t roug which the card is conveye 26. In a card sorting machine, in combination, a card picker vice, an analyzing device, a series of horizontally disposed receiving stations, a card conveyor common to all the stations and located above them, and a distributing system having passages through which cards are-conveyed by the conveyor from the analyzing and picking device to the stations, said distributing system comprising members extending from ad-

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